Chapter 150

This is the Orderkeeper Headquarters in Xijing City, providing temporary accommodation for members of the Agent Squad. Although it's temporary, the rooms are fully equipped, making Anilas's luggage seem excessively meager in comparison.

Hot water was running in the bathroom, and the sound of water seeped out from under the door along with the steam.

"That's about it... I remember the pajamas were..."

Anilas turned her suitcase upside down and rummaged through it for a change of clothes.

Click--

Fingertips touched a hard object.

Anilas paused for a moment, then pulled a small square box from the pile of clothes.

It was a photo frame containing a picture of two girls. They looked quite young; one of them had shoulder-length blonde hair and a rare northern-blooded facial structure, delicate and serene, with a slightly shy expression on her youthful face.

It was Anilas.

The other girl, with black hair, appeared slightly older Anilas and gave the camera a reassuring smile.

The background of the photo is a building surrounded by snow-white ground and walls. Anilas is wearing a brightly colored dress, while the girl is wearing a white uniform with a conspicuous name tag pinned to her chest.

The name tag didn't have a name, only a number.

"Chizuru..."

Softly murmuring to herself, Anilas cradled the photo frame in her arms, a serene smile playing on her lips.

"Well, I've arrived in Xijing City today! Aren't I lucky? Although I haven't seen all of Xijing City yet, it's definitely an exciting city... Oh, right, speaking of which, I met Miss Efnir today! In person!"

Anilas spoke softly, as if she were talking to the girl in the photo frame, or perhaps she was amusing herself.

"She really is as admirable as you said... and she's truly amazing, many times more amazing than anyone I've ever met! Oh, right, I also got her autograph, and I had her write it on your nameplate. So, how about it? Would you be happy if I gave this to you as a birthday present?"

Gotō Chizuru, that's the girl's name.

It is also Anilas's name; her original name had been abandoned long ago, and now she is Gotō Chizuru.

She tilted her head, the cool touch against her cheek, and smiled with her eyes slightly narrowed.

"Chizuru, I suddenly... am looking forward to tomorrow... But... is it really okay...? I'm rejoicing alone, yet I haven't found any clues about the killer..."

"Please wait a little longer..."

"The murderer who killed you, who killed them, I will... I will definitely find them."

"Then kill them. Leave no one alive."

"Wait for me."

United Hospital

Nishizaki Yuki sat in front of the computer, reviewing the data report file in her hand again and again.

Those are the measurements from Efnir's right eye.

"Call..."

After comparing it with the measurement records again, he still couldn't find anything suspicious enough. Nishizaki Yuki put down the file, took a deep breath, and rubbed his temples.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and took out a lighter. Just as she was about to light it, Nishizaki Yuki Kanade Kotone suddenly appeared beside her.

Kanade Kotone placed a cup of hot coffee in front of Nishizaki Yuki.

"Miss Nishiki, you can't smoke anymore..."

"Oh, sorry, sorry, I forgot about that."

Nishizaki Yuki smiled and put the cigarette he had taken out back in.

"Thank you for the coffee."

"No, no need to be so polite... I'm supposed to be Miss Nishiki's assistant, but it seems like I haven't been able to help her much at all..."

The Kanade Kotone.

"This is all I can do..."

"You've already done very well, even though you've only just started learning. Speaking of which, you said you came to me because you 'wanted to be able to help,' right?"

"Ah... yes! Yes!"

Kanade Kotone playing, then gently bit her lip.

"Whenever I see Yanase- san and Yukina fighting, I can't resist the urge to help them. I feel like I've been living too easily all this time, so I want my life to have more meaning... Nishiki- san... will you laugh at me?"

"How could I laugh at my assistant?" Nishizaki Yuki stared at the swirling, thick coffee in her cup. "Oh, by the way, I have a new task for you tomorrow."

"Really? Thank you, Ms. Nishiki, I will do my best!"

"Okay, relax, it's okay."

Taking a breath, Nishizaki Yuki rubbed her sore neck and took a sip of her coffee.

The rich aroma lingers on the lips and teeth.

"Speaking of which, Kanade," Nishizaki Yuki's furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and she suddenly asked, "Your coffee-making skills are really good. Did you learn it somewhere before?"

"Huh? That, that's..."

Kanade Kotone paused, then began to stammer.

To say where she had studied... it was a bit embarrassing to say such a place. Kanade Kotone felt her cheeks burning and quickly looked away.

She lied, saying, "I learned that in home economics class at school..."

"Eh? Really? Home economics class even includes these things? I was wondering if you had worked part-time somewhere."

"Um... no, no! Absolutely not!"

Nishizaki Yuki glanced suspiciously at Kanade Kotone, who was vehemently denying it, and sighed with amusement.

"It's so good to be young..."

Did you say anything?

I said, "It's already late, let's go home."

"Ah? Okay, okay..."

Kanade Kotone took out her phone and glanced at the time, only to realize that it was already past 2 a. m.

"It's so late already..."

Time slips away so quickly that it's almost imperceptible.

Even at this late hour, the phone received no text messages or calls.

Her father didn't care about her at all.

"By the way, it's not convenient for you to go back now, is it?"

"Why?"

The gentle voice that suddenly appeared beside her ear startled Kanade Kotone, and she shoved her phone into her pocket.

"Miss Nishiki..."

Nishizaki Yuki patted Kanade Kotone's head.

"It's the middle of the night, and it wouldn't be good if something happened to you on the road. The city's security seems a bit worrying lately."

Due to the frequent occurrence of Erosion Disaster, the public's anxiety and unease have gradually worsened, and news reports about vicious assault incidents have been broadcast more than once.

"Anyway, you can sleep at my place tonight."

"Why?"

As night falls, the bustling city falls silent.

In the pitch-black alley, the burly man desperately clutched his neck, blood spurting from the corners of his mouth and between his fingers.

He stared wide-eyed at the darkness before him, then with a dull thud, he fell backward to the ground, twitched a few times, and then remained motionless.

In the darkness, a girl dressed in black with a hood emerged, chains hanging from her fingertips, connecting to silver blades.

Blood dripped from the tip of the knife.

She raised her hand and pressed the button on her headset.

"Target eliminated, mission complete."

"Saori, thank you for your hard work."

Fushihara Ayaka's voice came from the other end of the call.

"Come back. Leave the rest to others."

"Um."

Footsteps were already approaching rapidly at the end of the alley. Saori raised her eyes, pulled her hood down, and quietly took a step back.

Her figure disappeared into the night.

A moment later, several special forces soldiers arrived at the location and spoke into the communication system.

Saori had already left.

She stood alone atop a tall tower, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, her black hooded coat billowing in the wind, the biting night wind whipping her hair.

"Never hated...?"

Since I never harbored any resentment towards her, there was no need for me to "forgive" her.

Whether or not one atones is not up to Efnir.

It depends on oneself.

--This was Efnir's reply to Saori, which didn't seem too surprising.

In Saori's memory, Efnir was that kind of person.

Saori sighed softly, her breath instantly turning into white mist and dissipating. She lowered her gaze, her eyes falling on the ring on her finger.

She reached out her hand, her fingertips tracing the ring, her gaze softening.

"Cold..."

For Rin's sake, she had to take a different path.

As Efnir said, forgiveness from others could not bring her "redemption," and whatever the outcome, the final choice was up to her.

That's why she accepted Masaki Hina's suggestion.

--Abandon the identity of "Uzuki Saori" and let "Uzuki Saori" disappear from this city.

He disappeared from Rin's side.

Become a sharp blade in the darkness, a hidden weapon unknown to others.

If agents like Efnir are the surface, then Saori is their shadow behind the scenes, assisting the Third Group and also acting as an unnamed assassin to handle classified missions requiring special combat skills.

The one being judged becomes the sword of judgment; that is who she is now.

The Orderkeeper Headquarters, Command Center.

"This is the complete plan and investigation report for this mission. Please review it, Commander."

"Um."

Kusei Maki took the folder from Shinomiyami Nami, raised her hand, and quickly scanned it line by line.

It was already three o'clock, but Kusei Maki showed no intention of resting.

With the operation to Maesakagawa Recapture Operation imminent, she had just taken over from Masaki Hina and was still unfamiliar with the situation here.

She still has a lot to do.

This is the duty of a qualified commander.

On the training field, Canary wielded her twin swords time and again, sweat dripping from her chin and blooming into delicate little flowers on the ground.